Circle of Stars

USO honors top corporate donors.

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace (ret., second from right) is joined by his wife Lynne Pace, left, Miss America Nina Davuluri, and USO-Metro president and CEO Elaine Rogers at the USO Stars and Stripes Night gala Oct. 4 at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington.
Photo by Jeanne Theismann.

Arlington  The USO of Metropolitan Washington honored its top corporate sponsors Oct. 4 at the 10th Annual Stars and Stripes Night gala, naming 37 corporate donors to its 2013 Circle of the Stars.

“We are very honored and humbled that these corporate sponsors are active and generous supporters of USO-Metro,” said USO-Metro president and CEO Elaine Rogers. “Because of the incredible support of these companies, we are able to provide a broad range of programs to service members and their families, including programs for children with deployed parents, support services for spouses and emergency housing programs.”

Held at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, more than 500 USO-Metro supporters attended the event, including Person of Interest television actor Kevin Chapman, WWE star Mark Henry, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace (ret.) and newly crowned Miss America Nina Davuluri.

“It's a great experience to be here,” said Kathleen Causey, wife of Army Sgt. First Class Aaron Causey, an EOD team leader who lost both legs in Afghanistan in December 2011. “The USO has been such an integral part of Aaron's recovery and my own recovery as a spouse.”

The Circle of Stars presentation was the centerpiece of the night and highlighted the value of corporate supporters for USO-Metro's work with military service members and their families. A special presentation was made to A-T Solutions president and CEO Dennis Kelly for the company's longstanding support of USO programs.

“It is our honor to support the USO and its vital programs for our military troops and their families,” Kelly said. “They are our nation's heroes.”

“Because of the USO, I know that both my husband and I will be taken care of and provided for.”

USO-Metro is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides programs and services for active duty troops and their families at area military hospitals, five USO Centers and a Mobile USO. Signature programs and services include Turkeys for Troops and Project USO Elf, emergency housing and food assistance, and caring for wounded, ill and injured troops and their caregivers.

“The USO is essential to the recovery of a lot of people,” said Kathleen Causey, who served as a USO volunteer at Fort Drum, N.Y. prior to her husband's deployment. “Because of the USO, I know that both my husband and I will be taken care of and provided for.”